^^o^ "°*''^"/ '^«>,*^-\/ 'V'-^-.o- '°^*'*^^*/ V^^-\/ %''^-^*^o'> 'V*^-*./ "^ ,0 0' -V'lr,-'*,/ .0 ^\*^^ > ^v ,.. °^_ ••-'»' ^0' V. •..^- ,V .<^^ V«^^ ^pC,' .•^-^r * A^-^ - * -^^ %> V <^ *'T7i* ,0 O"^ V-' JOURNAL OR Historical Recollections OF AMERICAN EVENTS DURING The Revolutionary War BY ELIAS BOUDINOT President of the Continental Congress, Commissary General of Prisoners in the Army of America during the Revo- lutionary War, Director of the Mint, etc. Copied from His Oiun Original Manuscript. PHII,ADEI,PHIA FREDERICK BOURQUIN 1894 *1 Edition limited to 315 copies, of which 25 are large-paper quarto 290 are royal octavo. This copy is Number 9> '»-^*\ y' .'Bib'" B. J. BICKING PRINTER TBMTH AND MARKET STS PHILADELPHIA. h i'r REMARKS. This Journal or Diary of Events which occur- red during our Revohitionary War, is published, verbatim, literatim et puiictuatim, from a faithful copy, made in 1874, of the original Journal writ- ten by Elias Boudinot, and which was then in the possession of Joseph J. Mickley, of Philadelphia. That the publication of the same is merely carry- ing out the desire of the author, who wished to bequeath to posterity a true and ungarbled ac- count of the important occurrences of those times, is attested to by himself, in the early pages of the Journal ; as he says, "A great many interesting anecdotes, that happened during the American Revolutionary War, are likely to be lost to pos- terity, by the negligence of the parties concerned, in not recording them I shall therefore without any attention to order, set down ^ those I have had any acquaintance with, attending principally to the truth of the facts." Conse- quently, we have here a gathering of anecdotes of vital historical interest, bequeathed to us by him who participated in many of the occurrences, or which were narrated to him, at the time of their inception, by other participants. /Jj IV THE BOUDINOT JOURITAL. Many of the narratives impart information not to be obtained from any other source, while some establish the claim to truthfulness of deeds which were ascribed to individuals, and which have been, until this publication, considered vague and imag- inary; as instance the anecdote of John Aitken, alias John the Painter, who intended to assassi- nate George the Third, but who was diverted from the deed by Silas Deane, and destroyed instead the naval stores at Portsmouth, England ; also the anecdote of the heroine, Lydia Darrah, who con- veyed to the author the information of the intended movements of the British Army at Philadelphia, and the imparting of which to General Washing- ton, saved the Continental Army a disastrous defeat. Here also will be found full accounts of the exchange of General Charles Lee, who was cap- tured by the British, and the indecent and per- fidious manner in which he acted towards Wash- ington immediately after; The capture of Major Andre, and mention of his real captor, whom his- tory has failed to name ; the poor old horse, who took the Tarrytown road, instead of the road to 'New York ; had he taken the latter, who can say what would have been the outcome ; The exposure of the claim of Beaumarchais against the Conti- nental Congress ; The capture of Yorktown, and Washington's expedient which led to the capitula- tion; Motion made in Congress to execute Lord THE BOUDIIfOT JOURNAL. V Cornwallis in retaliation for the murder of Colonel Haines, as well as many other interesting nar- ratives. Throughout the whole Journal, the author is laudatory of the character of his beloved chief, Washington, and contributes, in no small way, items of the greatest interest, gleaned through personal intercourse with the greatest of men, ex- tolling his ability as a General, his knowledge as a Statesman, and his self-sacrifice as a Patriot ; the latter especially when the author approached him with the view of resio:ninof his commission as Com- missary for the exchange of prisoners, on account of Congress neglecting to supply him with money to alleviate the sufferings of the prisoners in the hands of the British at IsTew York. To use the author's own words, " In much distress & with tears in his eyes, he assured me that if he was deserted by the gentlemen of the country, he should despair, He could not do everything, he was Gen- eral, Quartermaster, and Commissary. Everything fell on him and he was unequal to the task, he gave me the most positive engagement that if I would contrive any mode for their support and comfort, he would confirm it as far as was in his power. On this I told him that I knew of but one way and that was to borrow money on my own private security. He assured me that in case I did, and was not reimbursed by Congress, he would go an Equal sharer with me in the loss." Was ever VI THE BOUDINOT JOURlSrAL,. more patriotism or self-sacrifice exhibited, or more sympathy expressed for his fellow soldiers by any general, at any time, than by Washington in this instance. The Diary terminates with a beautiful account of General Washington's passage from Elizabeth- Town, ^ew Jersey, to ^N'ew York, with the Com- mittee of Congress, when first chosen President of the United States, 23d April, 1789. Elias Boudinot was born in Philadelphia, May 2, 1740, and died in Burlington, JSTew Jersey, October 24, 1821. He was appointed Commissary- General of Prisoners in the Army of America in 1777, and was elected a delegate to Congress from 'New Jersey, serving from 1778 till 1779, and again from 1781 to 1784. He was chosen President of Congress on November 4, 1782, and in that official capacity, signed the Treaty of Peace with England. In 1795 he was appointed by Washington, to suc- ceed David Pittenhouse, as Director of the Mint, and held the office till July, 1805. / CONTENTS. Copy of the Alarm Sent by the Committee of Water- town, Mass., April 23, 1775, . . . . i Elias Boudinot, Short Sketch of Himself, ... 2 Rev. John Witherspoon Advocates the Separation of the Colony of New Jersey from Great Britain, . 4 Boudinot visits the Continental Prisoners in New York to Kxamine into their Grievances, ... 9 Boudinot Meets the British Commissioners at German- town to Exchange the Hessian Prisoners, and the Conversation which took Place thereat, . , 23 Silas Deane Relates to Elias Boudinot how he Suc- ceeded in his Mission as First Secret Minister to the Court of France, and Exposes the Claim of Beaumarchais Against the Continental Congress, 26 The Story of John Aitken, alias " John the Painter," who Destroyed the British Naval Stores at Ports- mouth, England, ....... 30 An Account of the Frenchman who Poisoned Amer- ican Prisoners in New York, and was Rewarded for so Doing by General Howe, . . . .35 Capture of Yorktown — Count de Grassf' Threatens to Withdraw the French Troops — Washington's Ex- pedient which Led to the Capitulation, . . 37 Cartel for Exchange of Prisoners — Explaining the Perfidy of General Howe, and the Manner in which the Continental Congress Insulted General Washington, 4^ Lydia Darrah Conveys the News of General Howe's Movements to Elias Boudinot, when the British were in Possession of Philadelphia, . . 'SO VUl THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. PAGE Providential Escape of the American Army at Morris Town, New Jersey, . . . . , -54 Motion Made in Congress to Execute I,ord Cornwallis, in Retalliation for the Murder of Colonel Haines, and Cruelties Committed on Prisoners in Philadel- Pliia, 56 Washington and Congress Decide to Execute Captain Asgill of the British Army, in Retalliation for the Foul Murder of Captain Huddy, but his Life is Spared at the Request of the King and Queen of France, ........ 60 Washington Refuses to Punish a Known Traitor, With- out Evidence, ....... 66 The Manner in which Elias Boudinot Succeeded in Getting Congress to Pay him Back the Money he Advanced to Feed and Clothe Continental Soldiers Who were Prisoners of War, . . . .68 Scarcity of Powder at Boston, . . . . .71 The History of the Exchange of General Charles Lee, who was Captured by the British, Describing his Indelicate Behavior in General Washington's House, and Narrating his Infamous Tirade Against Washington, and his Ridiculous Proposition to Congress, 73 The Taking of Major Andre, 83 General Washington's Passage from Elizabeth-Town to New York, with Committee of Congress, when First Chosen President of the United States, 23d April, 1789, 92 Troops Furnished by each State during the Revolution- ary War, 1776 to 1784 97 JOURNAL. Copy of the Alarm sent by the Committee of Watertowii, near Boston, to raise the Country. Rec'd by me as Chairman of the Committee of Safety at Elizabeth Town, in the Evening of 23rd April, 1775— " Wednesday Morning near 1 1 o'clock. Water Town. To all friends of American Liberty, be it known, that this morning be- fore break of day, a Brigade, consisting of about looo or 1200 men, landed at Phipp's Farm at Cambridge and marched to Lexington, where they found a Company of our Militia in Arms, upon whom they fired without any provo- cation and killed 6 Men and Wounded 4 others. — By an Express from Boston we find another Brit^ade are now upon their march from Boston supposed to be about 1000 — the Bearer Israel Bissel is charged to alarm the Country quite to Connecticut, and all Persons are desired to furnish him with fresh Horses, as they may be needed — I have spoken with several who have seen the dead and wounded. J Palmer one of the Committee of S y. forwarded from Worcester April 19th 1775. Brooklyn Thursday 1 1 o'clock. Norwich 4 o'clock. New London 7 o'clock. Lynne Friday morning i o'clock. ^ Say Brook 4 o'clock. Shillingsworth 7 o'clock. E Guilford 8 o'clock. Guilford 10 o'clock. Bradford 12 o'clock. New Haven April 21st. rec'd & forwarded on certain Intelligence. fairfield April 22nd 8 o'clock. Thursday 3 o'clock Afternoon. Since the above rec'd the following by second Express. Sir I am this moment informed by Express from Woodstock, taken from the mouth ot the Express that arrived there 2 o'clock Afternoon, that the 2 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. Contest between the first Brigade that inarched to Concord, was still continu- ing this Morning at the Town of Lexington, to which Bridage had retreated. That another Brigade said to be the Second, mentioned in the letter of this morning had landed with a quantity of Artillery, at the place where the first did. — The Provincials where determined to prevent the two Brigades from joining their strength if possible, and remain in great need of succor. — N. B. The Regulars when in Concord, burnt the Court House, took 2 pieces of Cannon, which they rendered useless and began to take up Concord Bridge, on which Capt. (who with many on both sides were soon killed) made an attack on the King's Troops, when they retreated to Lexington — I am Sir Eb Williams Col Obadiah Johnson, Canterbury." P. S. Mr McFarland of Plainfield Mass., has just returned from Boston by way of Providence, who conversed with an Express from Lexington, who further informs, that about 4000 of our Troops had surrounded the first Brigade who were on a Hill in Lexington. That the Action continued and there were about 50 of our men killed and 150 Regulars as near as they could determine when the Express came away — It will be expedient for every man to go, who is fit and willing. New York Committee Chamber, 4 o'clock, 23rd April 1775 P.M. Rec'd the within by Express & for'd by Express to N Brunswick with directions to stop at Elizabeth Town and acquaint the Committee there with the foregoing particulars by order J Low The Committee at New Brunswick are Chairman ordered to forward this to Philadelphia. A great many interesting anecdotes, that hap- pened during the American Revolutionar j War, are likely to be lost to Posterity, by the negligence of the pai'ties concerned, in not recording them, so that in future time they may be resorted to, as throwing' arreat lio-ht on the eventful Crisis-, of this important ^ra — 1 shall therefore without any THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 3 attention to order, but merely as they arise in my memory, set down those I have had any acquaint- ance with, attending principally to the Truth of the facts. I was among- the lii'st of the citizens of ]S"ew eXersey who exerted ourselves in opposition to the unconstitutional Acts of Great Britain then the mother Country, and to whom the Citizens of America Avere bound by the strongest habits of filial aflPection and religious obedience. JSTothing was farther from our ideas, than a state of indepen- dence, on the Country from which we drew all our Principles of Happiness and Enjoyment. I had read an excellent treatise, said to have been written by Lord Kaim, which in a very extraordinary manner foretold the certainity of American Inde- pendence, in some future day, and that founded on a train of solid reasoning, but we talked of it and treated it as the generality of People now do the accounts they read of the Millinium — In 1775 I was chosen a Member of the provincial Congress of IN'ew Jersey ; and when a proposition was made by a few weak and Yiolent Men, for raising a regiment of Troop, it was opposed by all the Men of ^ote and understanding as a measure wholly against our Duty and Allegiance to Great Britain and rejected as contrary to every sentiment or desire of our Constituents. A few week violent Men (particularly a Wm. Smith, of Woodbridge) were not only for raising a regiment of Soldiers but 4 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. expressly moved foi* an order to burn every Mans house, who should refuse to join in the opposition — It required prudence and patience to get rid of the effects of these hotheaded measures — But I could not help remarking that these very men were the first to join the enemy as soon as they appeared in force — Rev. John Witherspoon Advocates the Sepa- ration OF the Colony of ]N^ew Jersey FROM Great Britain. In 1776 in the month of April, an invitation was given in the l!^ews Paper of IS' ew Jersey (but with- out a name) for each County to choose delegates or a Committee to meet at 'New Brunswick on mat- ters which greatly concerned the Province — but it was generally conceived to be designed to pro- mote some general plan relative to a Markett for home manufactures in each County. Committees were generally appointed, Altho' the publication made but little impression on the minds of the people at large — At this time the stated Meeting of the Trustees of the College of New Jersey was held at Princeton — Being one of the Trustees, I at- tended, but we were surprised, to find our President, the Pev. Dr. John Witherspoon had absented him- self on the 2nd day of our meeting. We finished our Business and the next day, was returning home THE BOUDIN^OT JOURNAL. 5 without reflecting at all on the meeting to be held at ^ew Brnnswick, having totally forgotten it. — In company with Wm P Smith Esq another of the Trustees, arrived at ]S"ew Brunswick about 11 O'clock A.M, and after feeding our Horse, meant to have dined at Woodbridge — In the mean time an acquaintance from the County of Berger came into the Tavern. He informed us that he was one of the Committee from that County — That Dr Witherspoon had met the united Committees, and acknowledge himself the Author of the publication, and informed them, that the design of the meeting- was, to consider the peculiar situation of the Prov- ince, and the propriety of declaring a separation from Great Brittain, and forming an independent Constitution for ourselves, and as he did not wish to precipitate so important a step, he proposed ad- jorning till the afternoon, when he would offer his reasons at large, and in the mean time, each Member might think seriously on the Subject — this unex- pected account raised our Curiosity, and Mr. Smith, & Myself agreed to stay and hear what might be said on the Subject, but before the meeting ad- jorned, they resolved to request, that as the subject was one which interested every Inhabitant of the Province, any of the Audience might come forward & deliver his Sentiments altho' he could not vote on the Question — We accordingly attended the Meeting in the Afternoon when Dr. W. rose and in a very able 6 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. and elegant speech of one hour and an half en- deavoured to convince the audience & the Committee of the absurdity of opposing the extravagant de- mands of Great Brittain, while we were professing a perfect allegiance to her Authority and support- ing her courts of Justice — The Character of the speaker, his great Influence among the People, his known attachment to the liberties of the People, and the artful manner in which he represented the whole subject, as worthy their attention, had an eifect, on the assembly that astonished me — There appeared a general approbation of the measure, and I strongly suspected an universal acquiescence of both Committee & Audience in approving the Doctor's Scheme — I never felt myself in a more mortifying Situation — The anonjmious publication — The Meeting of the Trustees of the College but the Day before made up wholly of Presbyterians, — Their President leaving them to attend the meeting & avowing himself the Author of it — The Doctor known to be at the head of the Presbyterian Interest, and Mr. Smith & Mj^self both Presbyterians, arriving at jS^ew Briniswick in the morning, as if intending to go forward & then stay- ing and attending the meeting, altogether looked so like a preconcerted Scheme, to accomplish the End, that I was at my wit's end, to know how to extricate myself from so disagreeable a situation, especially as the measure was totally ag's my Judgment. On a minutes Conversation with Mr. Smith, 1 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 7 determined at all events to step forward & leave my Testimony of the Scheme in toto — Two of the Committee had delayed the Question by speaking in favour of it, but no one had spoken in opposi- tion, till I rose, and in a speech of about half an hour or better, stated my peculiar Situation and en- deavoured to show the fallacy of the Doctors Argu- ment, — That his plan was neither founded in Wis- dom, Prudence, nor Economy, — That we had chosen a Continental Congress, to whom we had resigned the Consideration of our public affairs — That they, coming from every part of the Union, would best represent all the Colonies now thus united. — They would know the true Sitaation of our Country with regard to finances. Union & the prospects we had of a happy reconciliation with the Mother Country — They would also be possessed of our relative Cir- cumstances with regard to the other l^ations of Europe — In short that they were the only proper Judges of the measures to be pursued, and that we had no right to involve them in distress and trouble by plunging ourselves into measures of so delicate a nature, until they should advise us in what manner to proceed etc etc This opposition wholly unexpected by the Doc- tor with the great attention of all present, a little disconcerted him. — but he soon recovered himself, and began a reply when two or three Gent' of the Audience came to me & desired that I would inform the Doctor, that if he proceeded any farther, they 8 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. would not be answerable for his safet}^ — I answered, that the request was an unreasonable one. — That I had been the only person present who had opposed him, that he had a right to be heard in reply, and if they disliked the proposition, they ought openly to come forward & to give their opinion — The Doctor had not spoken twenty minutes, when I observed some person whispering to him — He directly stopped — informed the Chairman, that he found that he was giving offence, and therefor he should say no more on the subject, but hoped that the Committees would return to their respective Counties & consult their Constituents, without coming to any determination on the Subject — To this 1 objected, urging the impropriety of breaking up without a Yote, as in that Case the opinion of the meeting would be variously reported in the different Counties, according to each mans political Creed, and the people would by these means be led astray. The Doctor was a good deal out of humor & con- tended warmly against a vote — but a large Majority of the Meeting insisted on a Yote, which, being taken, out of 36 Members, there were but 3 or 4 who Yoted for the Doctors proposition, the rest rejecting it with great warmth. Thus ended this first attempt to try the pulse of the People of ^ew Jersey on the Subject of Independence ; and yet when advised by the Continental Congress, no part of the Union were more trusty than the State of 'Ne^Y Jersey. •# t C E L, linoi d States i -J JLJL fervice of their o bedi By His E X C E L. L, E, N c y Elias Boudinot:, Efquire, Prefident of the United States in Congrefs Aflembled. A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS a body of armed Soldiers in the fervice of i he United States, and quartered in the Barracks of this City, having mutinoufly renounced their obedi(;nce to their Officers, did, on Saturday the Twcn- fty.Firfl Day of this inftant, proceed, under the diredtion of their Serjeants, in a hodile and threatning manner, to ihe Place in which Congrefs were aflembled, and did furround the lame with Guards: And whereas Congrefs in .confcquencc thereof, did on the fame Day, refolve, " That the Prefidenc and Supreme Executive Council of this State " fliould be informed, that the authority of the United States having been, that Day, groffly infultcd by the " difoiderly and menacing appearance of a body of armed Soldiers,, about the Place within which Congrefs were aflcm- " bled; and that the Peace of this City being endangered by the mutinous Difpofrtion of the faid Troops then In the " Barracks; it was, in the Opinion of Congrefs, ncceCfary, that efFc 6lual Meafures fliould be immediately taken for " fupporting the public Authority:" Aud alfo whereas Congrefs did at the fame Time appoint a Committee to con- fer with the faid Prefident and Supreme Executive Council on the praflicabillty of carrying the faid Refolutlon in oduc eflcd; And alfo wheieas the faid Commiitee have reported to mc, thatihcy liavenoC received fatisfaaory Afllirances for cxpeding adequate and prompt exertions of th'.s State for fupporting the Drgnityof the foederal Government = And alfo whereas the faid Soldiers flill continue in a ftate of open Mutiny and Revolt, fo that the Dignity and Authurity of the United States >V&ould be conflantlyexpofed toa repetition of Infult, ^frhilc Congrefs flulf continue to fit in this City. I do therefore, by and with the Advice of the faid Committee, and according to the Powers and Authorities in mc vert- ed for this Purpofe, hereby fummon the honourab^ilhc Delegates compofing the Congrefs of che United Sratcs, and e^KMp^them, to meet in Congrefs on Thurfday the Twenty Sixth C'ayof Junelnflant,- at Princeton, In the flateof New- pJ^PV t^ijl ord mhat further and more effectual Meafures may betaken Forfupprefling thoprefent Revolt, andmaintaming the Dignity and Authority of the United States, of which all Officers of the jUnired States, civil and military, and all others whom it may concern, are defired to take Notice and govern themfclves acccrdlngly. GIVEN under my Hand and Seal at Philadelphia, in the flateof Pennfylvania, this Twenty Fourth Day of June, in the Year of Our Lord One Thoufand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Three, and of ^M Sovereignty and fadc- pendencc.lhc feiWRthi^ ELIAS BOUDINOT. Attea. SamuelSteRETT, Private Secretary. FaC"81MII.E ok HkiiAHSIDK IxsKKTKU UV Ei.IAS BiIIMMXkT IV III^* .JoritVAL. ^ THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. YlSITS THE CONTINEI^TAL PRISONERS IN ISTeW York to Examine into their Grievances. In the spring- of 1777 General Washington wrote me a letter requesting me to accept of a Commission as Commissary General of Prisoners in the Army of America — I waited on him and politely declined the task urging the wants of the Prisoners & having nothing to supply them — He ^ very kindly objected to the conduct of Gentlemen of the Country refusing to join him in his Arduous struggle, — That he had nothing in View but the Salvation of his Country, but it was impossible for him to accomplish it alone, That if Men of Character & Influence would not come forward & join him in his Exertions all would be lost — Affected by this / address, and supposing that I could be of some service to the Prisoners, and at the same time have an Eye on the Military Power & prevent its In- croachment, on the Civil Authority, I consented to accept the Commission on the Generals assurance that I would be supplied by the secret Committee of Congress with hard Money for the relief of Prisoners, and that I should only be subject to his order in the Conduct of my department — Soon after I had entered on my department, the applications of the Prisoners were so numerous and their distress so urgent, that I exerted every nerve 10 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. to obtain Su}jplies but invaiii — Exceptino- £600 — 1 had recM I'rom the Secret Committee in Bills of Exchange, at my first entrance into the Office — T could not by any means get a farthing more, except in Continental Money, which Avas of no avail in ISTew York. — I applied to the General describing my delicate Situation and the continual application of the Officers, painting their extreme distress, and urging the assurance they had rec'd that on my appointment, I was to be furnished with adequate means for their full relief — The General appeared ■^ greatly distressed & assured me that it was out of his power to afford me any supplies — I proposed drawing Clothing from the public Stores, but to this he objected as not having any thing like a suf- ficient supply for the Army. He urged my con- sidering & adopting the best means in my power to satisfy the necessities of the Prisoners, & he would confirm them — I told him I laiew of no means in my Power but to take what Monies I had of my own, & to borrow from my friends in ^ew York, to accomplish the desirable purpose — He \ greatly encouraged me to the attempt, promising me that if I finally met with any loss, he would divide it with me — On this I began to afibrd them some supplies of Provisions over and above what the Enemy afibrded them, which was very small & very indifterent. The Complaints of the very cruel treatment our Prisoners met with, in the Enemy's lines rose to THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 11 such a Heighth that in the Fall of this Year, 1777, the General wrote to General Howe or Clin- ton respecting there complaints & proposing to send an Officer into JS'ew York to examine into the truth of them — This was agreed to, and a regular Passport returned accordingly — The Gen- eral ordered me on this Service — I accordingly went over on the third of Feb 1778 in my own Sloop — supposing that my treatment would be very harsh, I prepared to meet with it in a proper manner, at Staten Island, the Commanding Gen- eral, put on Board of us a Sergeant & file of Men we arrived at the wharf at i^ew York, a little before Sun down, when I sent the Sergeant to the Commandant of the City (who was General Eobertson, who I had formerly known) to inform him of my arrival & request to land. In a very short time, the Sergeant returned, with an answer that I must send to the General my rank & Busi- ness before I could be permitted to land — know- ing that the General knew both, I was chagrined at this Answer, and immediately turning to the Captain of my Sloop in the presence of the Ser- geant, asked him if the Wind would suit to return over the Bay, to which he answered in the affirma- tive — I then took out my Watch & addressing the Sergeant, told him to return to his General & in- form him that I would neither send him my rank or business, as he well knew both, and that if I was not suffered to land in Ten minutes, I should 12 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. return from whence I came — The Sergeant sur- prised at such a message to the Commanding General, ran with great haste to deliver this an- swer, and much sooner than I could have expected, Major Courtland returned with the Sergeant & very politely desired me to land, as he was ordered to conduct me to the Commissary of Prisoners — When I came to Mr. Commissary Lorings, he be- haved very civilly, and after taking Tea with him, desired me to attend him to the General. I found no ceremony of blinding me or any other restraint which I had expected I wore a uniform & sword by my side. The General rec'd me with great politeness and appeared as friendly & sociable as he had used to do before the War — He conversed very freely with me for near two hours, without mentioning anything rela- tive to the manner of my conducting myself while in the Garrison — At length he informed me that lodgings were prepared for me, and the Commis- sary would wait upon me to them — I answered that my being in a garrisoned Town, was an entire new thing to me, and therefor if I asked anything improper, I hoped it would be imputed to my want of knowledge of military caution — That I had a Brother in Law in the City who was my agent, and therefor should be glad, if consistent with order, to lodge with him — The General, with great politeness assured me that the lodgings were pre- pared, yet I might go where I pleased, on Condi- te * o o bolj > w jtt 3 o c •'^^ P tea — -^■^ - - O " °T3 , 3 bO .E ■>^ O '- .2 u O XI u o H.2 C °< 'U 9 <" -3 ii o ^-^ 6 s: <^ C v2 3 c o t- - u O '"' t> u ^ o V a ■^ c S7, C t; ". 5^ §^^^ Cc -a ft >> >3 a -5 5 S r. ? J> "^ 2 ■< ■J 2 :? 2 c !:?^i- >• w ^-; w oT r. ?r -S rC-LT fc«$ 2^ ~V3f> ^ "-^ oa **■ s u ?; CO r^ E >^ u C IJ — -. 4-> c« '^ o So O ft- J2 >^ « ^ s > > o u z o S S 2 C/3 fc I- o H .■5 5 r ^■^ I"? • - '^ S 5 .i 3 1- «= ->• r. r^i ■^^' c-^ -S - '^cIS *. q 2 c 5 - 2 S--S ^ > ^-S i § 5 to *• H ? S « ^ -S r ^ - »5 ^^ J> r " 2 t: vi ^, *, >, ,-^ ^ ^ «. -5! -9 >, »< r2: « « '^ 5; o io . '•«-?: c >i >, -c- ;; >. 3 ? .i^ ' -i; ■ - •• . ■ ^ .- »: 3 e <^^ 5 5 b >■. ^ — (^..5 C .2 2; c "^ ♦J ■— • o to u < O Oi 6 o •= ui c ^^ in THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 13 tion of my breakfasting with him in the Morning — This I promised to do, & retired — Taking it for granted that I was to be put under the expected restriction in the Morning, I waited on the General at Breakfast, he behaved as before with the greatest civility & good humor — After breakfast he asked a great many questions about the ^ews in our lines, and conversed on common Topicks, but said nothing about my Conduct while in the City, on which I at last introduced the business on which I had come. — That I was a stranger to mili- tary rule — I knew that I was in a garrisoned Town, and therefor wished to know what line of Conduct it was expected that I should pursue — The General answered me that he knew we had heard strange stories within our lines of their Conduct to our Prisoners, that he rejoiced that General Washington had taken the measure of sending me in to examine for ourselves, for that he was sure that we should find them a parcel of damned lies — that he had ordered every Place I should choose to visit to be freely opened to me, and that as I was a gentleman, all that he ex- pected was that I should behave as such, and that I might use my own pleasure & go where I pleased — I confess I was surprised at this gener- ous conduct, and immediately replied, that I could not accept the Gentlemanly ofPer — That I had come on a fair and open Business That I had no secrets to communicate & would not receive any from 14 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. any person whatever, — That I conld not put myself so far in then* power, as after my departure to render it possible for them to Charge me with improper behaviour unworthy my Character, by communicating or recieving secret intelligence to or from our Officers — That my intentions were not only to be convinced myself of the truth of the treatment the Prisoners had received, but if it had been cruel, that the General also should be con- vinced of the fact also, as necessary towards their relief. That therefor I should not see a Prisoner or have any communication with one but in the presence of a british Officer, who I hoped he would oblige me by appointing to attend me — The General expressed himself well pleased with the proposal, and appointed one accordingly, observing again, that he was sure I should find the reports we had heard totally false — Accordingly I went to the Provost, with the Officer, where we found near 30 Officers from Colonels downwards, in close confinement in the Gaol in 'Ne^Y York. After some conversation with late Ethan Allen, I told him my errand, on which he was very free in his abuse of the British on account of the cruel Treatment he had rec'd during Months close confinement. We then proceeded up stairs to the Room of their Confinement. I had the Officers draAvn up in a Ring, and informed them of my mission, — that I was determined to hear nothing in secret. That I therefore hoped they would each of them in their THE BOUDIN^OT JOURISTAL. 15 turn report to me faithfully & candidly the Treat- ment they severeally had i ecieved — that my design was to obtain them the proper redress, but if they Kept back anything from an improper fear of their keepers, they would have themselves only to blame for their want of immediate redress — That for the purpose of their deliverance the British Officer attended that the British General, should be also well informed of Facts. — On this after some little hesitation from a dread of their keeper, the Pro- vost Martial, One of them began & informed us that they had been confined on the most frivol- ous pretenses, some for having been oppressors of the friends of Government, — for taking refugees' Property, while officers under command & in obedience to orders — for being out of their bounds of Parole, the week after their return — some confined in the Dungeon for a J^ight to wait the Censure of General to examine them, & forgot for months — for being Committee Men, &c., &c. — That they had rec'd the most cruel Treatment from the Provost Martial, being locked up in the Dungeon on the most trifling pretenses, such as asking for more water for drink on a hot day than usual — for sitting up a little longer in the Evening than orders allowed — for writing a letter to the General mak- ing their Complaints of ill usage & throwing out of the Windows. — That some of them were kept 10, 12 & 14 weeks in the Dungeon on these trifling Pretenses — a Captain Vandyke 16 THE SOUDIl^OT JOURNAL. had been confined 18 months for being concerned in setting fire to the City When, on my calling for the Provost Books, it appeared that he had been made Prisoner, & closely confined, in the Provost 4 days before the fire happened — A Major Paine had been confined 11 months for killing a Capt. Campbell in the Engagement when he was taken Prisoner, when, on Examinaation it appeared that the Captain had been killed in another part of the Action — The charge was that Major Paine when taken had no Commission tho' ac- knowledged by us as a Major — Capt. was con- fined for breaking a soldiers thigh with the but of his Gun after he was shot down, when the British Surgeon on examination acknowledged that the thigh was broken by a Ball, &c., &c., &c. Most of the cases examined into turned out wholly false or too trifling to be regarded — It also appeared by the Declaration of some of the Gent' that their water would be sometimes, as the Caprice of the Provost Martial led him, brought up to them in the Tubs they used in their Rooms, & when the weather was so hot that they must drink or perish — On hearing a number of these instances of Cruelty — I asked who was the Author of them, they answered the provost keeper — I desired the Officer to call him up that we might have him face to face — He ac- cordingly came in, and on being informed of what had x^assed, he was asked if the Complaints were true. He, with great Insolence answered, that every tHE BOUDINOT JOURIfAL. l7 word was true — on which the British Officer, abus- ing him very much, asked him how he dared to treat Gent' in that cruel Manner, he, insolently putting his hands to his side swore that he was as absolute there as Gen'l Howe was at the head of his Army — I observed to the Officer that now there could be no dispute about Facts as the fellow had acknowl- edged every word to be true— I stated all the facts in substance & waited again on Gen'l Robertson, Avho hoped I was quite satisfied of the falsity of the reports I had heard— I then stated to him the facts, and assured him that they turned out worse than any thing we had heard. On his hesitating as to the truth of this assertion, I observed to him the propriety of having an Officer with me, to whom I now appealed for the truth of the facts. He being present confirmed them, — on which the Gen'l ex- pressed great disatisfaction, & promised that the Author of them should be punished. I insisted that the Officers should be discharged from his Power on Parole on long Island as other Officers were — To this after recieving from me a copy of the facts I had taken down, he assented and ali were discharged except Seven, who were detained some time before I could obtain their reliese — I forgot to mention that one Officer, Lieut was taken Prisoner and brought in with a wound thro' his leg. He was sent to the Provost to be examined the next morning — He was put into the Dungeon & remained there 10 weeks totally forgotten by the 18 THE BOUDi:N^OT JOURNAL. General, and never had his wound dressed except as he washed it with a Uttle Rum and Water, given to him by the Centinels thro' the hole out of their own rations. Cap & a Cap Chat- ham were confined with them and their allowance was 4 lb hard spoiled Biscuit & 2 lb Pork per week ; which they were obliged to Eat raw — while they were thus confined, for the slightest Com- plaints, the Provost Martial Avould come down and beat them unmercifully with a Rattan & Knock them down with his fist — After this I visited two Hospitals of our Sick Prisoners and the Sugar House ; in the two first were 211 Prisoners & in the last about 190 — They acknowledge that for about two months past they fared pretty well, being allowed 2 lb of good Beef and a proportion of flour or Bread per week by Mr Lewis my Agent over and above the Allowance rec' from the British which was professed to be f r Allowance — but before they had suffered much from the small allowance they had rec' & that their Bread was very bad being musty biscuit, but that the British Soldiers made the same Complaint as to the bread. — From every account I recieved, 1 found that their treatment had been greatly changed for the better., within a few months past., except at the Provost. They all agreed that previous to the capture of Genl Bm'goyne, and for some time after. Their treatment had been cruel beyond measure. That the prisoners in the French Church, amounting 'i^Hte feOUDINOt JOURNAL. l9 on an average to 3 & 400, could not all lay down at once, that from the 15th Oct. to the 1st Jany. they never reed a single stick of wood, and that for the most part they eat their Pork Raw, when the Pews & Door & Wood on Facings failed them for fuel. But as to my own personal knowledge, I found Genl Robertson very ready to agree to every meas- ure for alleviating the miseries of War : and very candidly acknowledged many faults committed by the inferior Officers, and even the mistakes of the General himself, by hearkening to the representa- tions of those around him, He showed me a letter from Genl Howe who was in Philadelphia, giving orders that we should not be at liberty to purchase Blankets within their lines, — and containing a copy of an Order, I had issued, that they should not purchase provisions within ours, by way of retalia- tion but he represented it as if my order was first — I stated the facts to Genl Robertson who assured me that Genl Howe had been imposed upon & re- quested me to state the facts by way of letter which he immediately wrote to Genl Howe, urging the propriety of reversing his orders, which after- wards he did in a very hypocritical manner as will appear hereafter. One Day Calling on Genl Robertson he asked me if I had any objection against a free private political Conversation. I answered that I could not have any. — He asked me up into his Bed Room, and began by asking me, why so much 20 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. blood was shed, among those who were once breth- erii, when it was apparent that no valuable end could be answered by it. Why no one had yet stepped forth to stop so unnatural a breach & pre- vent the cutting each other's throats — I replied, that no good reason could in my opinion be as- signed—That the fault lay with them— They had in- vaded our Land — we had not troubled them — that all we had asked was to be heard— That this was refused and War and desolation was brought by them into our Country. It was therefor with them to make propositions, that we might know which it was they would be at. That we were not only strangers to & ignorant in the Art of War and almost wholly unprepared for it, but were lovers of Peace & only wished to enjoy our Habitations in quietness, without quar- relling with any one. He expressed himself very strongly agt the war, as an unnatural destruc- tion of each other by which nothing valuable was to be obtained, — That he was authorized to assure me that if any one would step forward & heal the unhappy difference, that he should be rewarded in any manner he should ask, even to a Pension of Ten Thousand Pounds Sterling — I observed to him that there could be no necessity for this, that the Americans were desirous of Peace, and would eagerly seize every opportunity of embracing it, but the proposition from the nature of the thing must come from them. THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 21 He observed that Lord Howe & Geiil Howe had been authorized to make peace with us on almost any Tei'ms. I assured him that I had been con- versant with the proceedings of Congress & the knowledge of Genl Washington and I did not be- lieve that any such thing was known. After a little reflection, he insisted that the fact was so, and that Lord Howe had actually written an account of it to Genl Washington before his land- ing, while off the Hook at Sea.— On my repeat- ing my disbelief of it, he told me that this was one of the evils of the present dispute. — That a parcel of Demagogues had professed themselves of the Govt and kept the people in entire Ignorance of the true principles of the differences between us, That he was sure if the people of America were left to themselves. They had too much good sense to continue the Breach, after such offers of Peace on our own Terms— at last starting as from a reverie, he said we must know it, as he had seen lord Howe's letter in our IS'ews Papers, I asked him if he did not know that Lord Howe's Authority went no farther than merely to grant Pardons, &c. He seemed confused and said that any Agreement he made would be ratified by the Parliament of Great Brittain — I then reminded him that the war had been brought on by the British Ministry having refused to suffer Parliament only to hear us, that being the sum of our last Petition and whether (as he had said, he knew many very 22 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. ii sensible and Worthy men in America) he thought those sensible men would ever submit to make a Treaty with any British Commissioners (and thereby loose the Friendship of France), and Trust to a British Ministry (whose treatment had hitherto been so unworthy Men of Probity or Po- litical understanding) to have ratified by Parlia- ment. He now seemed a little chagrined, and said with some seeming petulance, that he did not know what the American Gentn. had done with their Oaths of Allegiance — Indeed Sir, I know not how you have got over, your Oath of Alle- giance for I know you have taken one. I answered that it had been matter of some difficulty to me till I was legally discharged by an Act of the British Parliament. He said he had never heard of any such Act. I told him (much in the lan- guage he had used in the beginning to me) that I had long known the misfortune of the British Officers. That they were kept hoodwinked and in total ignorance of the Causes and Reasons of the War in which they were engaged — That they were obliged to obey & fight in every cause whether right or wrong. — That I supposed that this Act was kept from getting to their knowl- edge, but I knew the fact, and had seen it in St Jame's Chronicle published by Authority. He assured me that it must be a congressional false- hood and that no such Act, had ever been passed. I then asked him if he was acquainted with the THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. 23 British Constitution — He answered in the affirma- tive. I asked him what he thought of Allegiance & Protection. He said they always went together, and that without Protection no Allegiance was due. I replied Have you never seen Sir, an act of Parliament putting all the Colonies (friends & foes) out of the King's protection — The Old Gentn. seemed alarmed at his Confession, and with warmth said. — A damned act. — a damned Act — I told the Ministry so at the time — They were distracted. — A damned Act. — let us go down Stairs — and our Conversation Ended — Meets the British Commissioner at German- town, TO Exchange the Hessian Prisoners, AND THE Conversation that took place THEREAT. In the Spring of 1778 about the month of May or beginning of June, I was appointed by Genl. Washington to meet a Commissioner on the part of the British, at Germantown to Exchange the Hessian Prisoners in our Custody — On my arrival I found the British Commissioner was the same General Robertson, who had brought out a Gentn. with him, who had been an acquaintance of mine, a very sensible, prudent, Genteel Man — After doing our Business and dining together — This Gentn 24 THE BOUDINOT JOURNAL. asked me if I would walk in the Garden with him I readily agreed, when there he asked me if 1 had any objection to a confidential Political Con- versation — I said I could have none. — He told me that the British exceedingly regretted our unhappy dispute — That they were convinced, it could end in no substantial good to either party — That they were now convinced of the propriety of healing the breach. — That if any person would undertake to settle the unhappy dispute, he was authorized to promise them anything from a Dukedom to Ten Thousand Sterling pr annum. To this I replied as before to Genl Robertson, that offers of that kind could have no effect on men who were acting from Principle, That America wanted Peace & Quietness. — That the British had invaded us, and it was on her part to say what she wanted. — He said he came authorized in the fullest manner, to offer a Carte Blanche, it should be signed by proper Authority and I might fill it up myself — I told him that I was too well acquainted with the British Govt. & of the nature of the dispute, not to know that such an offer was merely delusion & that it could only tend to decieve, for they never designed nor could do any such thing — He in the most positive Terms assured me that it was all real and nothing could give more pleasure to the Govt, than to have it agreed to — I answered that I did not doubt his honesty in the business but well knew that he was imposed upon. — He however By the UNITED STATES of America In Congrefs Aflembled. A PROCLAMATION. Declaring the Ccflatioii of Arms, as well by Sea as 'oy Land, agreed upon between the United States of America and His Britannic Majcfty ; and enjoining the Obfervance thereof. WHEREAS PrOVtfional Articles were figncd at i?aris on thr Ttiirotth Day of Norcmbcr Uft, between the Miniflen Plenipotenti»ry of the Uniie